Erik van Loon and Yasir Seaidan were locked in a gripping battle after Friday’s first leg of the Jordan Baja across the majestic desert of Wadi Rum.
The Dutchman and the Saudi were just 26 seconds apart after two timed sections of 210.72km and 112.99km on round four of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
The Toyota Hilux and Mini John Cooper Works Rally drivers were closely matched throughout the opening section, with Van Loon ahead at every checkpoint and winning the first stage by 1min 27sec. Seaidan clawed back 61 seconds on the shorter second sprint.
Two beautiful stages, quite demanding and it was tough work behind the steering. They were nice stages to drive and the road book was okay. The second stage we made a few small mistakes. We had to cross some bumpy stuff but the track went around it and we lost a little.
Erik van Loon
The first one we win by one and a half (minutes) and we lose this one by one minute, so only half a minute between us. The problem now is that I have to start in front (Saturday). It is better when he is in front. We managed well – no punctures. Séb did a good job and the car was perfect and two amazing stages. I would love to see those more.
Erik van Loon
Seaidan admitted he got lost on the second stage and had a puncture on each of the day’s tests.
It was so difficult, navigation really hard and the stage was tricky and twisty. The stage was beautiful but the time between the two stages was very short. I got lost for a few minutes but I really enjoy it.
Yasir Seaidan
Frenchman Ronan Chabot was a comfortable but distant third in the second Overdrive Toyota Hilux.
Beautiful, the country was beautiful. No problems, but I need to try and find the road. It was difficult for the navigation. We did not get lost. It was okay.
Ronan Chabot
T4 battle
Five drivers fought for FIA T4 honours. Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah set the early pace before fuel pump trouble late in the first stage brought big penalties, letting Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri win the Wadi Rum section by 49 seconds from Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Saif. Al-Saif then won the second stage to take a 2min 46sec lead back to the overnight halt in Aqaba.
Today went well, the second stage was good for us, but we were unfortunate in the first as we collect two punctures. I think my performance was good in the second stage. Meshari Al-Thefiri was in front of us and we passed him and made a comfortable margin. It will be important for tomorrow. The stage was very interesting, similar to Al-Ula and Tabuk, but with some differences. I plan to visit it as a tourist in future.
Saleh Al-Saif
The stage is excellent generally. I got lost in some places where we were among the first to start, but we enjoyed it more than previous rounds. We treat the Baja as an exercise. Nasser (Al-Kuwari) did a good job and he surprised me with his superb attitude.
Meshari Al-Thefiri
Thomas Bell and Claude Fournier were sixth and seventh overall and third and fourth in T4. Saudi driver Dania Akeel was last of the FIA finishers in her T3 Can-Am Maverick X3 after six hours of penalties for not completing the whole of the first stage.
Bikes and quads
Emirati Mohammed Al-Balooshi set the motorcycle pace on his Husqvarna 450. The regional off-road instructor beat local rider and pupil Abdullah Abu Aisheh by 4min 47sec on the first stage, but his student fought back on the second, leaving Al-Balooshi 2min 30sec ahead overnight in round two of the 2021 FIM Bajas World Cup.
I’m a little bit rusty to do the navigation without the arrow. It has been a long time, like a year or so, but I am really happy. Me and Abdullah got together at the beginning and we rode together and then I don’t know what happened. I had a small tip-over and spend around three minutes stuck under the bike. It’s an amazing place. Abdullah was pushing me. If I win it is a victory, but if he wins it’s also a victory because this should be the aim of any coach. I’m proud of what he is doing.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi
For me it was a hard route today with more rocks and gravel. I am okay, no crash and difficult navigation but we finished second behind my coach. I am happy with this result.
Abdullah Abu Aisheh
Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera was third and Jordan’s Talat Al-Shishane fourth. India’s Aishwarya Pissay was the first bike retirement after falling from her Husqvarna 450; she was taken to hospital for checks on arm injuries. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al-Khater, Jordan’s Zaid Jaber and Kuwait’s Sarah Khuraibet received extra penalties for not completing the longer Wadi Rum stage.
Hani Al-Noumesi continued his good form from his recent Eastern Province win to lead the quads on his Yamaha Raptor, though, like rivals Haitham Al-Tuwayjri and Faisal Al-Suwayh, he took heavy penalties. Al-Tuwayjri covered only 20km of the first stage before a fuel line came loose and stopped his Yamaha.
Saudi crew Hamed Harbi and Waleed Al-Shegawi led the Jordan National Baja comfortably in a Yamaha YZR 1000 after five Jordanian and Palestinian rivals were badly delayed. The event is supported by telecommunications sponsor Zain.
Saturday
The Jordan Baja ends with a final 235.82km selective section looping through the southern desert, starting and finishing at Salhiyah.